Cable cutters who are tired of missing out on new episodes of HBO series such as “Game of Thrones,” “Girls” and “True Detective” won’t have to feel left out much longer.
The head of the television network announced today that HBO will launch a stand-alone streaming video service in 2015.
“All in, there are 80 million homes that do not have HBO and we will use all means at our disposal to go after them,” said Richard Plepler, chairman and CEO of HBO, on Wednesday.
People who ditched cable or satellite television service had been unable to watch HBO content in any streaming capacity until the network signed a deal with Amazon to allow its Prime Video subscribers to watch full seasons of past shows including “The Sopranos” and “Six Feet Under.”
With the move, HBO is attempting to access an already saturated market of paid digital video services. Recent research from ComScore indicated 40 percent of American households subscribe to a paid digital video service such as Amazon or Netflix.
“That is a large and growing opportunity that should no longer be left untapped,” Plepler added. “It is time to remove all barriers to those who want HBO.”
Clint Davis is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @MrClintDavis.
